The Wisdom of Strangers

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“There are a lot of electronics. If we have a problem, it is going to be a big problem. It was 6:00am and I was taking a walk in my neighborhood readying myself for the day. As I strolled, passing many a house, I pondered the years had I lived in my home, the added twenty my wife had resided on our block (we bought her parents house) and the years of my 365 awakening. In it, a stream of […]

“Always look for that good in somebody, no matter what walk of life, or whatever that person is, there is always something. Any human on Earth has that something good inside of them. You may have to search deeper, but we need to try to find that goodness in all people” Serendipity, Karma, Fate, Accident, Coincidence or any other theories from Gestalt to a broad range of reference on a number of laws of attraction, all concepts to consider when […]

“I am scared for the future. We have to be organic in the way we treat each other. What is most important is the relationship.” It was 5:58am as I sat next to stranger now friend in waiting for the 9:30am door opening of registration for the community centers summer arts classes. Seemed both of us shared a common goal of getting our kids signed up. To the left of me was the entry to the center and between it […]

“I hope that in the future we come back, or at least turn around. There is no human contact anymore. There are emails. There are voice mails. There is text messaging. But, there is no human interaction” “Success is the best revenge.” Said nurse Maribel, whom I met one evening at a local blood drive. A rather aggressive stance coming from a person who walked with sweetest of compassion and charm. Instantly, I had to question Maribel’s outlook. It just […]

On the Western front of the Famous Route 66 lies the California coastline. Route 66. 2448 miles of ever-changing pavement. Asphalt, concrete and dirt that, since 1926, has reigned strong as a most prolific icon. A starting / stopping point (all depends on the direction of your travel) for a journey of grand proportion. At it Westward end. Standing as a pinnacle marker for an adventure completed. Subtle and welcoming above the Santa Monica pier A destination not only famous […]

“As parents we need to be sure our children feel loved, and we need to teach them morals, to not judge, and to do their best to be kind to others; and to do so, we need to be that kind of person” It was around 10:00am, I had just come from teaching a spinning class, and having a meeting planned for 1:00pm that day, and not wanting to waste time commuting to my home office, I found it prudent […]

“Stay Alive” I was out with my family when at a gas station we were approached by a desperate looking woman. “Please can you help me, We need to get home to Pomona, and we don’t have enough gas.” I’m wasn’t sure if I had sucker written all over my face or I was just charitable. Either way, It was close to the holidays, and why not give a little. I put $10 of gas in her car. Even though […]

“Just call me Cab,” she introduces herself, adding, “because I don’t identify with my gender.” Because I don’t identify with my gender–a very current statement, but coming from Cab, the reasoning for it call us to empathy. Reserved she was, but quite she was not. For in her pulled back claim could be felt an esteemed power and a resolved peace. A sense of self-awareness that was evident in her openness. A courage that was infectious and enlightening. A willingness […]

“I became some sort of pot hero, like Cheech and Chong, Willy Nelson, Snoop Dog.” We are all in the thing together. A statement that is cornerstone to Operation-365s mission: The grounding principle that asks each of us to look at one another in a basic acceptance of of one overwhelming fact. Every single one of us is built of basically the same DNA structure. Our blood runs the same red, our lungs require the same 02, and every one […]

“When I was five I was shot because I am Jewish. I got hit by two bullets, one in the leg and the other in the abdomen. I lost fifty percent of my blood and almost died. “The next generation of guys need to treat their women better.“ Picture me as a 365 billboard, everywhere I go handing out cards and promoting our movement to all I pass. On one such evening a handshake turned into twenty minutes of […]

“When the war ended I transported surviving prisoners from the death march. “I was a pilot in world war two, I flew transport.” Retired engineer Walter reminisced as he described one of his war memories. “When the war ended I transported surviving prisoners from the death march. When they were released they were very undernourished and ill. The first thing they did was to eat. And, from eating too much too fast; most of them developed Elephantiasis. I remember to […]

“If everyone had more of an understanding of other people; and not just trying to thrash them on their beliefs, but just understanding that we are different; and if they accepted those differences, we would all get along so much better.” We have spoken to thousands of unique individuals since the inception of Operation-365, and in publishing this statistic, it is uplifting to quantify that the greater majority of those interviewed strive to live by a standard similar to Susan’s […]

“If we are going to change, we have to do more, get involved, and educate ourselves. It is amazing how little knowledge our current people know about the environmental impact of industry and population.” I was out on a Saturday road trip with my daughter, our destination, Santa Barbara, land of healthy living and volleyball. It was a lovely drive and we dropped off highway 101 just as sunset hits. My daughter had a plan, a sand crab hunt. Chasing […]

About the future, I don’t know. But I see a time where people are getting more aware with the challenges of pollution, issues with the earth, things like that, and hopefully that will carry on. It’s early Sunday morning and, as expected, the sleeping in crowd has left the streets a bit thin of movement. Other than the coffee shop goers, open houses of worship and cyclists/runners, people are sparse wherever I roam. I drive the rural areas of Los […]

There are a lot of different people in the world, but still we are cut from the same cloth. We’re people. We’re human. It’s not about ethnicity, even though the world sees it that way. But I don’t see it that way.” It would have been easy for me to judge, profile or make assumptions to the intent of stranger now friend Michael. A mountain of a man, I met him as he sat ominously under the shade of a […]

“Don’t ever think someone may not understand where you come from or who you are. Revive the sense of community we are gradually losing. This is how we have to approach our future as a people.” At just under twenty-four, Anthony and Kristen want for a peace that is beyond their years. Moved to Los Angeles from Rhode Island, they said, “It is a miracle we even made it here, we both come from backgrounds of being very poor.” Perhaps […]

“Instead of giving any advice to the world, I’d reverse it and tell them to listen. There is a lot to be learned just by being quiet,” “The moment I saw her, I could tell that she had a peace about her,” says my wife in looking over my shoulder as I write about today’s stranger, now friend, Anahita. Her name alone is closely associated by many mythologies with fertility, healing and wisdom, and as I noticed her, the spirit […]

“Modern man thinks he is wide-awake, with his third eye open and wise. But the wiser he thinks he is, the more insane he looks in the mirror of reason.” “’You can interview me but I want to remain anonymous, just call me ‘The Student of Paz (peace),’” and in respect to my new found friend, we honored his wishes. It was outside a local haunt, Casey’s Tavern, where we met and shared we stand for thirty-minutes of meaningful conversation. […]

“Stop focusing on the hype, and start focusing on realistic goals and humility” The streets were dead and void of movement, when my good friend Dan and I drove past an old-time hearse. To set the scene, picture two grown men, dressed in suits from an evening meeting, driving in a conservative red Honda Accord, traveling in normal flow of forty-mile-an-hour traffic. Now imagine these two men slowing their pace in waiting for your vehicle to catch up with you, […]

“Look at people for who they are inside, and respect everyone, not for what they look like on the outside; and don’t judge by clothing, job or looks.” The day was ending, and even though the weather was screaming of an on-coming rainstorm, the coastal streets of Santa Monica were vibrant with activity. I’d been working in the neighboring Culver City all day, casting for a project I was directing the following week, and as I traveled home, an end […]